Chapter 484: We're Too Weak

Within the spirit prison in Xiao Nanfeng's manor in the Sieve of Heaven, Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Chang Bing and the other disciples. "It's been four days. Isn't Yin Tianci dead yet?"

"Yin Tianci's True Immortal relics should all be gone by now, but he likely has a relic even beyond the realm of a True Immortal. The energies of yin and yang that the cauldron possesses are strong, but can't exhibit their full potential without flames of sufficiently high quality. That's why it's taking longer than expected," Chang Bing replied.

"He has a treasure beyond the realm of a True Immortal? How could he have been trapped in the Purpleflame Gourd for so long, then?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"I suspect that it's a defensive relic that doesn't boast much offensive ability. Even so, the yin and yang energies will slowly whittle Yin Tianci down. He's surely badly wounded by now, and we can sense that he's weakening from the feedback we receive regarding the yin and yang energies."

"Very well. Keep it up until he's dead," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of going easy on Yin Tianci. After all, they were already enemies. Why cause trouble for himself by leaving Yin Tianci alive?

Just then, an Earth division disciple rushed into the spirit prison. "Division Leader, Division Leader Zhang is here along with the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and a large group of people from the divine empire of Dayin. In the lead is the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci."

"Hm?" The disciples within the mountain cave gave the messenger an odd look.

Wasn't Yin Tianci trapped within the Yin-Yang Cauldron? Where did this other Yin Tianci come from?

"Could it be Yin Tianci's avatar, trying to save his main body? He must have found the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and Zhang Feifan." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"What do we do now, Division Leader?" Chang Bing asked urgently.

"Keep the cauldron running. I'll go check out what's going on," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Understood!" The disciples continued to channel energy into the cauldron.

Xiao Nanfeng strode out to greet Zhang Feifan, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, and the anxious avatar of Yin Tianci.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Division Leader Zhang, what brings you here today?"

Zhang Feifan gave him a wry smile. "I'm just a middleman today, I fear. I'm here on behalf of the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and Crown Prince of Dayin to help negotiate terms."

"Oh? Is that so? Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, what's there to discuss between us?" Xiao Nanfeng glanced curiously at him.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied, "Better for Zhang Feifan to discuss the details with you. I'm here representing the Eastern Aspect to bear witness. The matter concerns the grudges between you and Yin Tianci."

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I didn't think you would be so generous. Yin Tianci and his subordinates attempted to kill you; you're just letting bygones be bygones!"

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost fumed, his face dark, but didn't say anything.

Only then did Xiao Nanfeng turn toward Yin Tianci. "Well done, Yin Tianci. You didn't dare to find me personally, so you spoke to the Eastern Aspect hoping that he would force my hand."

Yin Tianci lowered his head and took a deep breath. "I apologize for offending you in the past, Martial Aspect Xiao. I hope you'll release my main body."

Xiao Nanfeng ignored Yin Tianci and turned to Zhang Feifan. "Division Leader Zhang, what's the situation?"

Zhang Feifan gave him a wry smile. "The Martial Aspect of the Vast Seas sought my help in resolving the conflict between you and Yin Tianci. I'm sorry to say that I accepted."

Xiao Nanfeng considered the situation. He immediately guessed that Ao Canghai must have obtained countless benefits from Yin Tianci or perhaps the divine empire of Dayin and was now attempting to force him to release Yin Tianci's main body, while being stingy and refusing to share in whatever spoils that he had obtained.

Zhang Feifan had to have no choice. His position as official in the Imperial Court was surely awkward; Ao Canghai 'seeking' his help might as well have been a threat.

He didn't inquire about the situation from Zhang Feifan. What he saw on Zhang Feifan's face told him all that he needed to know. His face turned cold. "Yin Tianci, I'll oblige the Eastern Aspect's request, but if I release your main body, how will I ensure that you don't take revenge on me or the Taiqing sect? It hardly makes sense for me to leave a threat like you alive."

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was taken by surprise. He had been tasked with ensuring Xiao Nanfeng's compliance, and had even been granted use of Ao Canghai's charm to force Xiao Nanfeng's hand if need be. He didn't expect that Xiao Nanfeng would be willing to give up so readily.

Zhang Feifan lowered his head in embarrassment.

Yin Tianci was taken off-guard as well. He thought that he would have to endure a prolonged negotiation, but Xiao Nanfeng had given in readily.

"I promise that, as long as you release my main body, I won't take revenge on the Taiqing sect or on you," Yin Tianci pledged.

"And what of the divine empire of Dayin?"

An official of Dayin spoke up from behind Yin Tianci. "Before our departure, the Immortal Emperor had me prepare this contractual scroll promising that no member of the divine empire of Dayin will be permitted to take revenge on you, the Taiqing sect, or your empire of Dazheng if you release His Highness' main body. His Majesty's word is law."

The official proffered a scroll.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost added, "The Eastern Aspect has confirmed that this scroll was written by the Immortal Emperor of Dayin and represents a lasting covenant."

Xiao Nanfeng considered the scroll. The Immortal Emperor of Dayin's imperial seal prominently marked it, and its contents were as summarized. Although it was nominally a promise, it sounded almost like a threat. If he were to refuse, the divine empire of Dayin would surely do its best to take down the Taiqing sect and the empire of Dazheng.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Had the Immortal Emperor of Dayin already concluded such an extensive check on his holdings and allegiances in just a few short days?

"Xiao Nanfeng, my main body won't hold out much longer. If I die, then all these promises shall be invalidated, including everything promised to the Martial Aspect of the Vast Seas!" Yin Tianci's avatar exclaimed.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost jumped in. "Xiao Nanfeng, the Eastern Aspect hopes that you'll resolve your conflict with Yin Tianci promptly.

Clearly, what the divine empire of Dayin had promised Ao Canghai was particularly important to him.

Zhang Feifan opened his mouth as though to talk, but all he could do was sigh. He didn't want to make life difficult for Xiao Nanfeng, but there was little he could do in such a situation in which the future of the Taiqing sect might be at stake.

Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment, but ultimately nodded. "Very well. I shall respect the Eastern Aspect and the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. Yin Tianci, I will release your main body, and only your main body, in accordance with this covenant."

"What do you mean?" Yin Tianci asked, confused.

"I'll release your main body, but not anything in his possession."

"You!" Yin Tianci's eyes widened.

"If not for the Eastern Aspect and the Immortal Emperor's intercession, all your possessions would have been mine, and they only require that I give up your main body, not your possessions. If this is problematic to you, you may ask them for clarification," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

"No, no, you're quite right!" Yin Tianci exclaimed.

If he were to ask Ao Canghai and his father to revise the wording of the covenant, his main body might be dead by the time they did so.

"Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"In that case, will you release my main body now? He won't last much longer!"

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

He activated his manor key, causing the formations around the estate to ripple. The fog leading to his spirit prison dissipated as a path was revealed in sight. He beckoned the cultivators to follow him.

"Wait here," Xiao Nanfeng said, once they reached the entrance to the cave.

Yin Tianci and the others were impatient, but didn't dare cause a fuss. As for the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, who represented Ao Canghai, he could hardly make a fuss either now that Xiao Nanfeng had agreed to the proposal.

Xiao Nanfeng entered the cave and called out, "Release Yin Tianci."

Although Chang Bing and the other disciples were perplexed, they nodded and stopped channeling energy into the cauldron. Its lid popped open as yin and yang energies surged out.

A figure clambered out of the cauldron, none other than Yin Tianci's main body. His body was a pulpy mess of flesh and bone, his limbs soft and almost melted, his body no longer looking like that of a human. Only his head was intact, but it too was in bad shape.

On his head was a golden lotus hood, the artifact that had protected his head.

Xiao Nanfeng instantly guessed that this was the post-True Immortal relic that Yin Tianci possessed.

"What a treasure," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, reaching out for it.

However, the hood instantly crumbled into ash that dissipated through the air.

"Yin Tianci, what's the meaning of this?" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.

Yin Tianci's main body was too weak to speak, but Yin Tianci's avatar called out from outside the cave, "Xiao Nanfeng, I would have given you that treasure, but it's been destroyed! As for my storage treasure, I've placed it within your cauldron and didn't take it out with me."

Xiao Nanfeng refused to believe such a convenient excuse. He inspected Yin Tianci's main body, but found no trace of that lotus hood. Within the cauldron was a single storage bangle, as Yin Tianci had claimed.

He frowned. He knew that Yin Tianci had to be lying. How could that golden lotus hood have vanished out of nowhere? However, he didn't have any evidence that would allow him to dispute such a claim.

"Xiao Nanfeng, my main body needs immediate attention. Please bring him out," Yin Tianci's avatar called out.

Xiao Nanfeng claimed the storage bangle that Yin Tianci had left behind before leaving with his main body in tow.

The moment he emerged, a group of Dayin officials swarmed him to give Yin Tianci's main body emergency assistance.

Yin Tianci's avatar frowned upon seeing the appearance of his main body, but quickly said, "Matters between us are settled. Farewell!"

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost quickly jumped in. "Hold on. Why don't I bring you to the Eastern Aspect to bid farewell to him first?"

Clearly, he intended to claim the benefits that Yin Tianci had promised him first.

The cultivators left, leaving Zhang Feifan alone with Xiao Nanfeng.

Zhang Feifan smiled wryly. "I am deeply sorry, Division Leader Xiao, for having become their accomplice."

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There's no need for that, Division Leader Zhang. You can't be blamed for this. Blame the Dazheng Empire and the Taiqing sect for being too weak that they felt they could threaten us. Even without your presence, they would have done the same to me."

Zhang Feifan sighed.

"You should head back and rest. Don't worry, I'm alright."

Zhang Feifan nodded and left after chatting with Xiao Nanfeng a little.

Chang Bing, who had learned of what had happened over the course of the conversation, fumed, "Yin Tianci really does know how to make use of his connections, doesn't he?"

"It's all over with. At least the divine empire of Dayin won't attack us for the time being." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"Division Leader, will Yin Tianci really honor the covenant and not take revenge?" Chang Bing asked in worry.

"Given my understanding of him, this won't be the end of things."

"What?" Chang Bing blanched.

"Ao Canghai casually exchanged my spoils with the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, who threatened me with the safety of the Taiqing sect and the empire of Dazheng. Ultimately, the conclusion is the same: we're too weak."

Chang Bing sighed.

"Send your subordinates to spread word of what just happened. Make sure the entire Sieve of Heaven knows about this gossip."

"Why?"

"We need to ensure that everyone is aware of what happened. Only then will the divine empire of Dayin not dare to openly take action against the Taiqing sect and the empire of Dazheng. Otherwise, the emperor's integrity will become nothing more than a joke."

"Understood!"